Way back in the day (14…?? Some-odd years ago??) I started my own little greeting card company. I printed and hand-painted the cards myself, and some local shops carried them. Back then, I was dreaming of a career in children’s art. Pining away for one, actually! At one point, I even sent a bunch of my cards to Carol Bancroft to see if I could get some feedback. She sent me a really nice note back, which encouraged me a lot, but also helped me realize how far I had to go. It was a catalyst, making me ponder where I wanted to go with my work and where I didn’t. It still took lots of time for me to get up the gumption to begin my children’s career, but it’s 14 years later, and I still remember that helpful, kind gesture. It just goes to show what a difference something so seemingly small can make, in the bigger scheme of things.

Anyhow, I’m really, really proud of the work I did with my little card business. It was a springboard for so many different things creatively, it’s hard to even begin making a list for you without writing a book. Professionally, as far as helping me gain both self-confidence and business acumen, nothing can match the experience – and especially at a time in my life when I was so in need of direction.

Here is one of the cards that was in my line back then. I’ve always loved this one, and in the following years, I’ve found that the “stage” concept has clearly adopted itself as a running theme in my work. Happy Valentine’s Day!